The Diplomat in Spain

Photo: RAICEX

The Diplomat. 18/07/2018

The fifteen organizations of Spanish scientists working abroad have presented in Madrid the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad (RAICEX), which is born with the aim of giving voice to this group and serving as a channel of support and training for the dissemination of science and the promotion of multilateral collaborations.

RAICEX, which was presented on July 10 at the headquarters of the Ramón Areces Foundation, is an independent non-profit organization that brings together more than 3,500 researchers and scientists whose purpose is «to respond to the growing need to unite and represent under a common framework the community of Spanish scientists and researchers abroad, whose general interest is to transmit and share the skills and knowledge acquired in a global scientific context», the network reported.

In its first general assembly, the founding associations of RAICEX elected their first Board of Directors, which is integrated by Javier Escudero (president, representing CERU-United Kingdom), Hugo Gutiérrez de Terán (vice president, on behalf of ACES-Sweden), Sara Barrasa (secretary, representing RECEMX-Mexico), and Paula Fernández-Guerra (treasurer, representing CED-Denmark).

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The organization aims to be the «common framework» of more than 3,500 scientists working outside of Spain

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«A few years ago Spanish researchers and scientists abroad were an abstract entity, but today we are organized under a common framework and we represent a collective willing to contribute with ideas, support thousands of professionals working around the world and promote international collaborations, channeling multidirectional information that helps science to progress in a global perspective», said Javier Escudero.

The presentation ceremony coincided with the annual meeting held by these associations of scientists with other agents of the Spanish System of Science, Technology and Innovation. After its foundation, the representatives of RAICEX were received by the Commission of Science, Universities and Innovation of the Congress.